By John Geiger

Mountain bike mania!  Despite the snow-filled Sierra Buttes this season, the race went on.  Sierra City began to buzz around 7am on Saturday as racers arrived for weigh-in and to cue for the start of the 29 mile cross-country ride to Downieville. The wind of the passing pack at the 9:30 race start blew back flags to the clamor of cowbell and cheering fans.